FME erk Posted June 29, 2019 Author Share Posted June 29, 2019 Thanks Jeff. Useful photographs I must say. I do believe that that particular vehicle was purchased by a film company and if it is also to be believed, it was actually used at RAF Scampton to refuel the dambusting Lancaster aircraft . . . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted July 2, 2019 Author Share Posted July 2, 2019 You have to believe that this took over two hours to assemble. The instruction sheet does not offer the best placement of parts onto the main frame. There are quite a few recesses in the frame and its not the biggest/clearest diagram. As you can see I have extended the chassis and as such I have used artistic licence in placing certain parts on the extended section regards the hawser wire. I will be have to produced a larger fuel tank and a longer Air tank as those in the kit are smaller for the 4 x 4 Gun tractor. The kit only provides the bottom section of the engine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted July 3, 2019 Author Share Posted July 3, 2019 The one thing about AFV instructions, they aint very clear Ideally they could have had exploded views to clearly show where to stick stuff A bit of progress here with the suspension on the front, so many small pieces Modifications to the cab with a roof sliding hatch and on the refueller vehicles there were two triangular windows cut out to aid reversing. I will need also to do the same for the 'Fire shield' inserted behind the cab. Thanks for looking in . . . . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted July 4, 2019 Author Share Posted July 4, 2019 Completed the front axle and drive shaft last night. The fun begins when I try and build the two axles at the rear :shock: Just a snap to see how the cab is going to look . . . you dont see many ( if any) with the early style roof and sliding hatch being built even in the smaller scale a couple of days off before I start again David 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 Progressing with the rear twin axle combination. I need to complete the front axle with the wheels so I can then fix the height of the rear axles. I think in photos of actual vehicles, the rear end is slightly down but that is probably due to the weight of the fuel in the tank so I am aiming to get it as level as possible. The cab will be a point of interest and AFV do not let you down with detailing. Provision is there to have a number of window combinations and I will probably run with at least a couple of them being open. I hope to get the 6 wheel chassis complete with the cab before starting on the tank and pump housing David 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingco57 Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Some nice conversion work going on there David. Cees 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Sweet work, your Matador will look great. Cheers Rob 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted July 16, 2019 Author Share Posted July 16, 2019 Some progress has been made . . . honest First photo is a comparison of the Airfix OO scale and the 'massive' 35th scale Next a shot of the drivers area, note the two triangular windows rear of the cab. There will be a 'Fire shield' to go behind the cab that will also have the triangular cut outs without glass. Near side of the cab with a glance of the double axles at the rear The cab front. An etch mesh is provided for the distinctive AEC engine cover You may be able to see the two triangular windows in the rear bulkhead, a mod for this vehicle to aid the driver when reversing. The drive shaft between the two axles. I cast this shaft using 'Blue Stuff' and Milliput View of the 6 x 6 chassis with the modified cab roof for the MKII version. A few bits such as the windows in the cab to complete when the painting is completed, it also needs a new fuel and Air tank but the next challenge will be the 2500 Gall. tank and pump housing at its rear . Thanks for looking in David 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 OUTSTANDING progress David, I'm really lovin this one ........................ can't wait for MORE 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber_County Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 David, absolutely stunning conversion, you’re going to need one whole room in the house to stage the Lanc and all vehicles as a diorama....... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted August 6, 2019 Author Share Posted August 6, 2019 There has been some progress although not much, the builders are in the house so . . . A new vehicle fuel tank was put on the chassis made from a solid bar of plastic, fortunately the filler neck and gauge are from the kit parts A new Air tank was also put in place on the near side . . . The six wheels are now permanently in place, all square and vertical I installed the photo etch grill which is something I have never used before Those sharp eyed amongst you will spot the two styles of roof, the curved version with sliding hatch and the more usual with the arched roof, again with a slide hatch neither of which come in kit form with the kit David 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted August 8, 2019 Author Share Posted August 8, 2019 On with the tank . . . The pump housing at the rear of Five identical oval templates create the shape 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted August 14, 2019 Author Share Posted August 14, 2019 More progress on the main tank . . . Placing some sectional pieces in to keep it rigid The miniature spirit level ensures it all flat Also made a start on the tank supports, I intend to cast and produce several of these from milliput I used 20 thou plasticard to wrap the tank frame, and finally, the mock up on the chassis thanks for looking in David 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted August 14, 2019 Share Posted August 14, 2019 David, that looks spot on...................... I need to 'try' to build a similar tank in 1/25 scale................. I will use your techniques and see if I can even come close.......some serious engineering here........ I LOVE this..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted August 14, 2019 Author Share Posted August 14, 2019 Jeff Good luck with that. I think the reason behind my success was that I used the same original to make the others rather than use the one that I had cut/shaped. I marked it up as such 'This One' 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harv Posted August 14, 2019 Share Posted August 14, 2019 Awesome looking !!......harv 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted August 16, 2019 Author Share Posted August 16, 2019 Been pressing on with the main tank I am making the master for the tank supports, again! The first version was a bit narrow when I checked against the tank straps so a bit more time will pass before I can cast those. Busy working on the pump housing at the rear as well . . . David 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted August 19, 2019 Author Share Posted August 19, 2019 Not much to show but some progress . . . the rear housing for the pumps etc that sits at the rear of the main tanks . . . More to come sooon David 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted August 20, 2019 Author Share Posted August 20, 2019 Getting it together 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted December 7, 2020 Author Share Posted December 7, 2020 I'm sorry to say that I did stall with the tank supports and struggled to find the best way to produce five such supports. The original one that I shaped was two pieces of 60 thou. plasti-card. I stopped after the thought of doing a support 10 times and trying to shape them all the same. I aint into resin so I didnt know how to cast anything like that so as i said, I stalled. I built some bomb trolleys for my David Brown tractor. I looked up on YouTube vids for inspiration and found a material called 'Blue Stuff'. My first attempt . . . I had varying success after failures and eventually ended up with five decent tank supports . . . I decided to use some Epoxy resin to best secure them . . . and with all five secured I tried to sit the tank on the chassis . . . I am now trying to get this completed before the end of December as I want to start the HK Lancaster in the New Year, so I have completed the access ladder and cracking on with the box housing for the pump system . . . More to come in the following weeks, Thanks for looking in Ian 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber_County Posted December 8, 2020 Share Posted December 8, 2020 This is looking very very good Ian.......are you going to do 1 Group or 5 Group aircraft to keep it local to us..... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted December 8, 2020 Author Share Posted December 8, 2020 No 1 Group . . . to sit with my No1 Group Lancaster from my nearest airfield; RAF Station Grimsby. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FME erk Posted December 9, 2020 Author Share Posted December 9, 2020 I have managed to construct the framework under the pump housing at the rear of the tank. There is a bar onto which a step ladder rest so the airman can reach up into the pump system, there is also a frame for the ladder stowage . . . . I'm just on with the tank strap buckles which are a bit fiddly . . . rgds to all Ian 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubertB Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 Excellent ! Hubert 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 Some nice scratchin' goin' on here! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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